Story Turn to D.C.

I have officially been a resident of Virginia for almost two weeks now. Pretty crazy journey to get here, but not for a second would I change anything that brought me here. Only now can I be thankful and look back with a sense of purpose from my past to have brought me where I am after the long and hard year of tension in my life. I want to be like Paul in the Bible where I can learn to thank God while in the midst of my tough circumstances, not just at the end of them when all is "said and done" for that chapter and I have moved on. 

So for the breakdown of my week here so far...

I drove 12 hours from Birmingham to DC straight through. Yes, I did the whole drive in one sitting and without a stop longer than just enough to fill up on gas and use the restroom. For once in my life I finally thought ahead and made some food and snacks to keep in the car with me to save time and money from food stops. I thought like a man, "How fast can I get there?" Originally it should have only taken me 11 hours, but I took a detour on the way. Apparently my route in which I was going was taking me right by a relative of mine that I have not seen since I was about 4 or 5 years old: my grandfather. It is certainly another story that has been written while starting another new one journeying up to my new home in DC. I plan on blogging about it next, so I will just leave you with that. It's a good one, you hopefully will want to read about what happened =)

I started work Tuesday, October 12 at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy. I have had quite the time trying to figure out the best way to get to work, let me just tell you. I literally work in the middle of downtown, so there is just no easy or fast way to get to my office. I was late the first two days of work, by 45 minutes. Ugh, the traffic here is just wretched! My first day I did the whole leave "extra" early to give myself time to learn the whole Metro train system and show up early, but no, that didn't help. Took me 45 minutes to find a parking space at the "park and ride" spaces in the parking lots. One day I gave up and just drove all the way down town then had to pay $16 for parking, yuck! It was quite an adventure that day since I spent 2 hours getting to downtown and then being 45 minutes late to work then wandering around for an hour after I got off work trying to find my parking garage. I got turned around when I went into a store by a round-a-bout circle drive by my building and it screwed me all up with directions. I seriously thought I had just lost my car! Oh my, that was an exhausting day. Thank goodness my work is being so lenient and letting me get used to the Metro! By the way, I LOVE MY JOB! I get to help edit the current book they will be published by the new year, research data and subjects about religion and politics, help with grant work, and I even got sent to Georgetown University today to attend a lunch meeting about Kashmir and the recent uprisings going on. I was blown away about all of the undercover violence and corruption going on. I had to write up a memorandum once I got back and my co-worker I wrote it for seemed really impressed! He is actually going to use it in one of his grants he is working on. I love every bit of my work day which I never thought was possible. What a blessing to enjoy work! I get to work about and write about premillenial dispansationalism!! Yes, I went to college for that.

Oh and my living situation? An answered prayer I forgot I literally prayed for: a home. I am living in the guest house on my aunt and uncle's horse farm with tons of land. It is literally my daily retreat from city life. I get to come home to a HOME where I can unload, relax, feel so loved, and have real intimate time with Jesus. I haven't had space for that in quite a few years. I have been able to spend a lot of time with my younger cousin and my aunt which has been so sweet. I also have an INCREDIBLE view of the night sky! The stars are crazy visible out here and I see them every night =).

Oh and I do have a friend here! We went to Samford together, so its a nice feeling that I can hang out with someone that has known me for more than a day. When I am not working (which is almost everyday sadly...) we have had time to hang out a few times. It's actually quite a blessing as well having at least one person that I know and someone that knows me from home in Birmingham. You know, it's hard and exhausting starting over with every new person that I meet, not that I don't fully enjoy it though. Anyways, we rode horses this past weekend and, um, I hurt. I don't think I have gotten on a horse in YEARS and my entire back is even killing me. I didn't realize the back muscles you use in riding horses, apart from the other sore muscles in the legs, abs, and ohhh the butt. But hey, at least it's a workout I really enjoy and I can do quite often. 

So here it is: I love it here. I like it better than LA to be quite honest. Yes, that was just written. I am dreaming again. I feel like I am a better version of me, or at least stepping into who God is shaping me to be. But I always say life is seldom what you plan. You know, something beautiful happens when you finally learn the lesson in surrender. And not just surrender in your finances, who to date, or a great opportunity, but the surrender of YOUR dreams. A better story happens. 

Storyline

So I have been quite busy since getting back from Portland at Donald Miller’s Storyline conference, but now finally my update on the conference. This is one of those things that I will try and articulate, but it’s never going to do it justice of how incredible and moving this conference was. It was a packed auditorium of 500 people all in the same longing; we want to live a better story whether it is through learning to actually write one or live it. The diversity in age, race, and gender was one of the most encouraging places to be in. I would have thought most people would have been around my age or 35 and younger, and single, but not so. There were more people over the age of 35 and with families than I could have thought. It was so powerful to see that there are people that believe it’s never too late to live a better story. One girl at the conference put it like this,”I normally feel like I’m with a bunch of world changers when I’m with my friends. Now I feel the same with tons of strangers”. And that’s exactly how it was.

For two days the atmosphere and the attitude of each person there was that of pleasure and anticipation to begin living their new stories they want their lives to tell. I met so many new faces and got to hear story after story of why people were there or the story that they are already telling with their lives. If there was one specific point Don wanted us all to walk away and remember about story I think it would be this; God ultimately created story. He created the time and space to place us all in a story that reflects God’s story. And the story that God ultimately wants is to save as many lives as possible through any means possible. God means for us to be producers of stories, not consumers.

“There is no category for you”, Don said to us. As God’s storytellers, we are not meant to live according to rules or the norm. We should not fit into just being a parent, just a student, or just a restaurant owner. Where you do what you do matters a lot. You can be anything, but you must recognize that you are a character in an ultimate story that reflects our God, so don’t let it be boring or just a job. Don calls this element “shared power” of a story. It’s a power that is shared where both God and us create. God created us, created time and space for a setting, and gives you dreams, talents, and desires. Now you get to use the power given to create whatever you want. But the story question is this: what do you want? Story only happens when the character knows what they want.

The reason why there is no category for you is because what you want is different from the world. Because you desire things of God to be made visible here on earth, you will have that different story that is worth telling. A story that tells of God saving many lives.

And here’s the catch: if you avoid conflict, you avoid story. This is the epic in which you live. Story can’t get started without action and conflict is action. Our sacrifice and conflict is a part of the story. As soon as we know what we want and where you think God is calling you to go, you better believe there will be a million reasons not to take the risk, spend the money, make the move, say a word, pick up the phone, or ask the question. The enemy will step in every way possible to keep you from getting your story started. He doesn’t want you to move forward and be an agent of saving many lives. This is just confirmation that first you have a story waiting to be lived and in a way that glorifies the Father. If you are ashamed of who you are and doubt God is with you, it’s the enemy defeating your story.

You have to ask yourself, “what will matter in the end?” Because in the end, love always wins. Our hope lies in that fact that we shall overcome. God will overcome the world so that we get to be at the wedding feast of the lamb. I want to live a life that is a story worth telling at the feast. When the celebration has begun and everyone is sitting around the table and sharing their stories of how God got to save many lives through them, I want to be one of those people.

My story is only going to get better from here. After learning all of this, there is no way I can ever go back and be ok with wanting my own things. I want the things of God and honestly, I have no idea where that will take me now. I gave up LA, my desire for more than 15 years of my life. And now I am headed to Washington D.C. where I have no idea where my story is going to take me here on earth. I went through some hellish days and moments to get to where I am, but I am headed to D.C. because of the conflict and strangley I couldn't be happier of where I am going. No matter what though, I want to share in the saving of people in any way that I can wherever I am.

So when it gets hard, remember it’s a part of the story. Thank God it’s hard. When you look back you are so glad that you have made it. If you know where you are headed it becomes easier to make better decisions or endure through the hard choices. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and once we arrive the celebration begins. How’s that for where you are headed?

So what does it take to live a meaningful life for you? What makes a great story also makes a great life.

“Man fully alive is the glory of God.” St. Ireneaus